IRISH REPUBLICAN NEWS: Loyalists march through republican areas without music

Loyalists march through republican areas without music

An early morning sectarian parade by loyalists through the republican
Ardoyne passed off without incident as two nationalist groups held
protests on Saturday.

Residents had complained that the parade, the first to pass the
notorious flashpoint this year, had been granted permission despite the
loyal orders refusing to even acknowledge an offer of talks.

There was a heavy PSNI presence in the Ardoyne area for the parade, one
of the first of the Protestant marching season.

The British army bomb squad was called in to examine a suspicious
device. Mysteriously, the PSNI at first claimed the device was “viable”
but later retracted that, saying it was a hoax.

The alert caused a minor delay until the road was cleared with the march
passing off peacefully shortly before 9am.

Nationalist residents from the Sinn Fein-aligned Crumlin Ardoyne
Residents Association (CARA) held a protest as the Apprentice Boys
accompanied by the Shankill Protestant Boys flute band paraded silently
past the interface.

A second residents group, the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective
(GARC) also held a separate protest.

A small crowd of around 30 loyalists cheered as the Apprentice Boys
reached the Crumlin Road roundabout.

Some local retailers complained that they were unable to get to their
place of work because of the heavy policing operation. Residents of
nearby Mountainview also said they were hemmed in to facilitate the
march.

While the Orange Order lifted the ban on direct talks with residents
last year to date no dialogue has taken place in relation to Ardoyne.

Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly said: “Given the tense few months
that we have just experienced and with the summer fast approaching, the
offer of dialogue between residents and the orange order should be taken
up immediately.

“I would also call on unionist politicians to show leadership and also
call for direct talks in order that a resolution can be found.”

Dee Fennell of GARC said that people in the area had lost all faith in
the Parades Commission saying they were “totally discredited”.

“By allowing this march the parades commission have breached their own
guidelines,” he said.

“What is the point in having a body adjudicate on parades when they
can’t even follow their own rules.”

RESPECT?

Another flashpoint parade in nearby Carrick Hill also passed off without
incident.

A decision to ban protesters, many of whom are parishioners at St
Patrick’s church, from standing directly in front of the church sparked
anger with residents and politicians.

Around 30 protesters held a banner nearby saying ‘Respect St Patrick’s
Church’ as several PSNI members photographed and filmed the small group
as the Apprentice Boys walked silently past.

Carrick Hill residents’ spokesman Frank Dempsey said the decision of the
marchers not to play music was “a welcome development”.